Manual tape-moistening machine.



- C. H. CROWEIAL.

MANUAL TAPE MOISTENING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NQV. I0. 1916.

FAI-@AIAA Img, 27, m8.

2 SHEETS-SHEEI l.

C. H. CROWELL.

MANUAL APE MOIfSTENING MACHINE'.

a' APPLICATION FILED HOV. 10, 1916. l $376 Patented Aug. 27, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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CHARLES H. CROWELL, OF BROOKLYN, N'ETv YORK.

MANUAL TAPE-MOISTENING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. y Patented Allg. 27, 1918.

Application led November 10, 1916. Serial No. 130,506.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. CROWELL,

' a citizen of the United` States, and resident of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and State of New York, have made a certain new and useful Invention Relating to Manual Tape- Moistening Machines, of which the following is a specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, which forms part of the same.

This invention relates especially to light portable moistening machines which can preferably be folded for transportation and in which a sealed tape container may be inserted and held so as to preserve the tape agtinst undesirable atmospheric influences W ile it is being used in the moistener. The moistener may comprise a feed plate mounted on the frame so that the tape end may be conveniently engaged and fed forward over the moistener into such position that its free forward end may be readily engaged by the operator and drawn forward to the desired extent. Then the tape can be drawn upward against a stationary type cutter mounted adjacent the feed plate, for instance, so as' to sever the tape length and preferably simultaneously lock the rest of the tape against forward movement. A moistener of the belt type, for instance, may be reversibly mounted in the moistening tank so that it may be withdrawn and reversed in position to assist in freeing it from accumulated gum, etc., from time to time, and the belt moistener of felt or other material is preferably mounted on a distributing carrier block having capillary slots so as to draw up the water and supply it freely to the moistener adjacent its acting moistening surface.

.In the accompanying drawings showing in a somewhat diagrammatic way an illustrative embodiment of this invention,

Figure l is a vertical section taken substantially along the line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a plan view.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of Fig. l.

Fig. et is an enlarged transverse section through the moistener taken along the line 1- 4 of Fig. i.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the distributing moistener carrier block.

Fig. 6 is a top view of the 4machine with the tape container and moistener removed,

the tank being 'shown in section along the line 66 of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation through the machine, the vertical guide plate being swung down into shipping position.

The frame of the machine may, if deslred, comprise a frame base 30 of cast iron or other suitable material which is preferably provided with the integral moistening tank 28, the rear part of Which may be provided with a cover 21, if desired. The rear part of the base is arranged to su port a roll of tape which may, if desired, e mounted within a tape container or cardboard box or case 1 which is preferably supported in suitable adjustable side clamps or members 35 adjustably mounted on the frame base in any suitable way. As indicated in Figs. 2 and 3 these side clamps may be formed with suitable clamping flanges 31, 32 which may, if desired, extend upward still farther at the forward ends so as to form projections 33, 34 at this point to more effectively guide the Vedge of the container. These clamps may be adjustably mounted on the base as by providing them with adjusting slots 36 with which adjusting screws 37 cooperate so as to allow a considerablerange of lateral adjustment to accommodate tape containers of different width and effectively hold the clamps in holding position to firmly support any container which may thus be laterally'centered on the base.

V The container may be in the form of a paper or cardboard box 1 which as indicated may be provided with a tape aperture 8 with which a suitable closing flap 9 may coperate so as to normally close this aperture and prevent moisture injuring the tape while still allowing the tape l1 to be withdrawn from time to time as it is used. The tape roll 4 may be revolubly mounted within the box on the usual/.core 75 which may rotate on the supportfpin 5 held in position within the container as by the pins or fastening members 6 driven in through the sides of the container. If desired, the stationary curely close the joint 3 between the edge 'Sti naps of the container and render the tape package resistant to the deleterious action of inoist air, etc., "which has an especially undesirable action with the hygroscopic guru coatings which are most desirable ,on gurn tape where quiclr and thorough nioistening and strong adhesion are desired. rllhe user may slip this sealed container, the sides of which may of course contain suitable advertising matter, into the rnoistening inachine in the same condition in which the container and tape are sold and shipped and then may continue to Withdraw the tape through the substantially closedtape aperture, so that all of the tape on the roll can be used Without opening the container or giving undesirable access to moist air, etc.

ln order to more effectively guide the tape 11 to the moistening and severing devices a vertical ,guide plate 12 may be provided to cooperate with the front edge of the con-A tainer and guides, such as 1A, 16, .may be provided adjacent the corner 15 of this guide plate so that the tape threaded through these guides may be lrept in proper lateral alinenient during its use. Suitable stidening; ribs suoli as 13, may be formed in this guide plate as shown in lligs. 1 and 3 and for convenience of shipping this guide plate may be movably mounted though preferably permanently secured to the frame as by pivoting the saine thereto. 'lhe brackets 17 on this plate rnay cooperate with the pin, 18

secured in similar brackets 38 on the frame so that this guide plate may either be swung up into vertical position, as shovvn in llig. 1 so as to cooperate with a tape container, or for convenience of packing,` and shipping the guide plate may be swung down as shown in Fig. l, so that it is of substantially the sance height as the moistening tanlr and n other parts of the machine.

F or sorne purposes it is desirable to forni a feed plate to facilitate the manual Withdraival of the'tcpe from the rnaohine and this may be formed on the cover 22 of the inoistening tanlr Which may be smoothly finished or preferably provided with a brass or other suitable plate 21 over whichv the tape 11 may be carried. lf desired, a stationary type cutter 26 inay be mounted adjacent the front of this feed plate so that When after being dravvn out to the desired extent the length of tape is swung upward against this cutter which may have a serrated edge, if'desired, the tape length is severed in the usual Way.- llt is desirable to have a suitable cutter lock, such as 50, arranged in connection with this cutter and this may be conveniently done by forming the cutter locli on the end of the plate 25 on which the serrated edge cutter is formed and by moi/ably mountingn these parts as by pivoting there to the freine so that the cutter swings up the cutter loclr moves down to hold the tape during the severing operation and insure a clean and square cut.. The cutter may be provided with the upstandingears or tlanges 2li through which passes the pivot bar 23 mounted in ears or brackets 49 on the'franie or feed plate 2l.

The nioistener of any desired forni and construction may be conveniently mounted adjacent the cutter and this moistener is preferably of the belt type, the inoistener belt 39 consisting of an endless strip of felt or other suitable porous hbrous material and being preferably mounted on a rnoistener distributing carrier bloclr ll depending into the Water 29 inthe inoistening1 tank and provided with a series of capillary slots or openings so as to raise and distribute this Water and more quickly and freely supply the saine to the acting surface of the nioistener. For this purpose narrow capillary slots may be formed in this bloclr in any desired and may conveniently be formed in each lateral face thereof, so that these slots 111-4-, are staggered as indicated in Fig. 5 and when the bloclr d1 is made of Wood these slots are preferably arranged in a somewhat inclined diagonal position, as shown in llig. Ll, so as to increase ythe capillary action of the carrier block, the grain of which is for this purpose preferably arranged substantiallyA vertical'. These capillary slots greatly increase the Water supplying or distributing action of such a rnoistener and it is also desirable to form suitable transverse recesses l-T at intervals along the sides of the .bloclr so that the Water is certainly and effectively supplied to the inner or rear faces of the moistener at various points along1 its height so as to be more freely and certainly carried up to its upper acting surface which is pref erably formed with' a beveled or cut-away edge adjacent the cutter so as to cooperate more readily with the tape. ln order to promote the self-cleaning action of the moistener it is preferably made reversible and is removably mounted in the rnoistener Well or space adjacent the front of the moistener tanlr so that it may be bodily removed by the operator and reversed in position which tends to soften and remove any accumulation of gum that may have adhered to its Working face. For this purpose the moistener Well at the front of the moistening tank 28 may as indicated in llig. 2 be formed with the moistener supports el@ projecting from the corners of the ribs 47, 4S., so that the inoistener block inay rest on these inoistener supports and be held at the proper height, the inoistener beine preferably held in alineinent lone'itudinally of the machine as by a nioistener spring i3 secured to the front of the tank so as to yieldingly engage the nioistener and force it back against the ribs 47. In order to make the moistener thoroughly interchangeable all its corners are formed with somewhat beveled portions 40 an indicated, so that it may be placed in any desired position and still cooperate properly with the cutting and feeding devices. and it is of course understood that the moistening tank is in this way given ample area to hold a relatively large vamount of water or other moistening liquid 29 so that considerable tape may be moistened Without supplying additional liquid.

In using the machine the tape container 1s of course putin place and preferably clamped in the position indicated in Figs. `1 and 2 and the tape 11 threaded through the guides and under the cutter so that it can be readily engaged by the operators linger as indicated in Fig. l and drawn or pushed forward over the feed plate until the forward severed end projects a little beyond the moistener 39 so that it can be readily grasped and drawn forward to the desired further extent while being held down in moistening engagement with the capillary moistener. Then when the tape is drawn upward against the cutter to sever a length the severed end is effectively held out of engagement with the moistener and if desired a somewhat upwardly inclined guard 27 which may be stationary may be located beneath the cutter so as to minimize absorption of moisture from the adjacent moistening surface. For this purpose an opening or recess 52 may be formed in the sides of the moistening tank which promotes air circulation and thus minimizes the moistening action on the tape end of the adjacent moistener surface. This guard 27 also preferably has an upwardly defiecting action on the tape end when it is first fed or pushed forward so that it does not undesirably engage the moistener. It is also desirable in order to make more uniform the initial feeding movement of the tape to have a suitable clamping dog or member 20 which may be pivotally mounted about the pin 18 so as to swing downward into contact with the tape on the`feed plate 21 and when the operator feeds forward another length of tape his finger naturally engages this clamp and pushes it down suiciently to hold the tape against backward movement at this time and then when the finger is. drawn forward it slips off the clamp and gives a more definite extent of initial feed to the tape before the operator-s finger engages the cutter lock or v plate 50 which substantially stops this initial feeding movement.

This invention has been described in connection with a number of illustrative embodiments, forms, proportions, materials, parts and arrangements, to the details of which disclosure the invention is not of course to be limited, since what is claimed as new andwhat is desired to be secured by` Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims. y Y

1. In tape moisteners, a .frame provided with adjustable side clam s to engage and support a substantially sea ed tape roll dispensing container, a moistening tank having a covered rear portion mounted on said frame adjacent said clamps, a guide plate pivotally connected to said frame to coperate with the forward portion of said tape container and provided with guides for the tape issuing therefrom, a feed plate on the top of said moistening tank, a clamping dog pivotally mounted at the real-portion of said feed plate, a stationary type cutter and a connected cutter lock pivoted to said feed plate adjacent its forward portion, a helt type moistener arranged on a distributing moistener carrier block and having one end extending into said moistening tank so that its upper moistening face projects adjacent said cutter, said carrier block being formed of wood having the grain substantially vertical and provided with a series of staggered inclined capillary slots extending from both front and rear faces thereo-f and with narrow distributing recesses formed in said front and rear faces.

2. In tape moisteners, a frame provided with adjustable side clampsy to engage and support a substantially sealed tape roll dispensing container, a moistening tank mounted on saidframe adjacent said clamps, a feed plate on the top of said moistening tank, a stationary type cutter and a connected cutter lock pivoted to said feed plate adjacent its forward portion, a belt type moistener arranged on a distributing moistener carrier block and having one end. extending into said moistening tank so that its upper moistening face projects adjacent said cutter, said carrier block being formed of wood having the grain substantially vertical and provided with a series of staggered inclined capillary slots extending from both 'front and rear faces thereof and with narrow distributing recesses formed in said `front and rear faces.

3. In tape moisteners, a frame provided with adjustable side clamps to engage and support a substantially sealed tape roll dispensing container,a moistening tank mounted on said frame adjacent said clamps, a feed plate on the top of said moistening tank, a stationary type cutter secured to said` feed plate adjacent its forward portion, a belt type moistener arranged on a distributing moistener carrier block and having one end extending into said moistener tank so that its upper moistening face projects adjacent said cutter, said carrier block being formedof Wood having the grain substantially vertical and provided with a series of capillary slots. t

ward portion of said moistening tank and provided with moistener supports at the corners of said Well, a moistener spring c0- operating with said well to hold the mois-` block extending inward from a plurality of faces thereof and a series of transversedistributing recesses in said block coperating with the inner surfaces of the moistener belt thereon.

15. In tape moisteners, a frame having means to support a tape roll, a moistening tank mounted to coperate with said'tape roll, a feed plate having a stationary upwardly inclined forward portion to act as a moistener guard, a stationary type cutter, a

moistener well formed in said moistening tank and provided with moistener, supports, a moistener spring coperating with' said well to hold the moistener in alinement and a reversible moistener removably mounted in said well and comprising an endless p0- rous moistener belt encircling a distributlng moistener carrier block formed with beveled edges adjacent its moistening faces and adapted to rest on said moistener supports within the liquid in said inoistening tank, there being a series of inclined staggered capallary slots in said block extending inward from a plurality of faces thereof and a series of transverse distributing recesses in said block coperating with the inner surfaces of the moistener belt thereon.

16. In tape moisteners, a frame having means to supporta tape roll, a moistening tank mounted to coperate with said tape roll, a feed plate, a stationary type cutter,

a moistener well formed in said moistemng tank and provided with moistener supports and a reversible moistener removably mounted in said well andcomprising an endless porous moistener belt encircling adistributing moistener carrier block adapted to rest on said moistener supports within the liquid in said moistening tank, there being a series of staggered capillary slots in said block extending inward from a plurality of faces thereof and a series of transverse distributing recesses in said block coperating with the inner surfaces of the moistener belt thereon. A

17. In a tape moisteners, a frame having 'means to support a tape roll, a moistening tank mounted to coperate with said tape roll, a feed plate, a stationary type cutter, a moistener well formed in said moistening tank and provided with moistener supports and arcversible moistener removably mount, ed in said well and comprising an endless po rous moistener belt encircling a distributing moistener carrier block adapted to' rest on said .moistenerrsupports within the liquid 1n said moistening tank, there being a series of capillary slots in said'block extend- 'ing inward from a face thereof coperating with the inner surfaces of the moistener belt thereon.

18'.- In tape moisteners,. a frame having means to'support a tape roll, a moistening tank mounted to coperate with said tape roll, a stationary type cutter between said tank and roll, a moistener well formed adyacentthe forward portion of said moisten- 1ng tank, a moistener spring coperating with saidwell to hold the moistener in alinement and a reversible moistener removably mounted in said well and comprising an endless porous moistener belt encircling a distributing moistener carrier block formed with beveled edges adjacent its moistening faces, there being a series of inclined staggered capillary slots in said block extending inward from a plurality of faces thereof and a series of narrow transverse distributing recesses in said block coperating with said slots and with the inner surfaces of the Amoistener belt thereon.

19. In tape moisteners, a frame having means to support a tape roll, a moistening tank mounted to coperate with said ta e roll, a stationary Ktype cutter between sald tank and roll, a moistener well formed adjacent the forward portion `of said moistening tank, and a reversible moistener removably mounted in said well and comprising a `porous moistener belt encircling a distributing'moistener carrier block, there being a series of inclined staggered capillary slots in said block extending inward from a plurality of faces thereof and a lseries of narrow transverse distributing recesses in said block coperating with said slots and with the inner surfaces of the moistener belt thereon. y

20. In ltape moisteners, a frame ,having meanswto support a tape roll, a moistening tank mounted to coperate with said'tape roll, a stationary type cutter between said' tank and roll, a moistener well formed adjacent the forward portion of said moisten- .I

and Va reversible moistener removlll tank nieuntef te ooperete with seid. tape rollE e stationery type cutter between sei@ tank enel roll, e moistener Well formeel ece j eeent'tlie "forward portion et seid meistening tank, and n reversible ineistener renier/ably mounted in said Well and comprising e porous nioistener belt encircling s distributing inostener eerrier bleek, there beingl e series et capillary slots in seid bleek extending inward tieni a. Jieee thereof.

22. ln tape nioisteners, s ranievliering ineens te support e supply et guminetl tape, e nioistening tank mounted to cooperate therewithQ stationery type cutter7 e moistener removably mounted in said inoistening tank and comprising; e porous nieistener sun fece encircling tbe top and sides oi e tlis tributing nioistener carrier block former?. with beveled edges etljecent its inoistening fece, there being e series et inelinecl steg- `ered ceo'llery slots in seitl block ent-ending inward i'r e plurelitjyv eoes tbereo' enel Y- er isverse distributing reeesses u tneree'itrAq L e 1, .nw tener teniet/mit tank enti ooi rece enoireli sing; e gerous meistener e t. .9; tbe top and sides et o. Clis tributing nio-i tener cerrier block, there be ing e series et staggered capillary slots in seid block etentlinpginwercl treni e nlurel ity o' feces tliereoi and o series or transvverse distributing recesses in seid block cio*- Lee/ense and sides of s distributing moistener eerrier bleek, there being s series of capillary slots in seid bleek extending inward from s fece tfliereoiE and e series of transverseV distributing Yrecesses in seicl bleek cooperating with the inner surface of the moistener surface thereon.

25. ln tape nieisteners, e fre-ine lievi-ng' ineens to support e supply of gumniecl tene,

o, inoisteninlfg` tank mounted to ooperate n tape nioisteners, e freine orovideel Y' rvitli ineens to support e tape roll, einoistening it? e belt type inoistener arranged en eli touting inoistener carrier block s.; d

one enti extentling inte esiti meistentliet its up* er nieistening ieee tnereiroun soieL enrrier bleek being weed l. A the grain subst-enf ienl and greritletl tb. series of rel inclineL eegilleu:V extending oir both s thereof enel.

n" irren' distributing recesses formeel in ser Y it and ree? feces.

QT, in tape inoisteners e, frame gororitied ith neens te support e tepe roll, e nieisteningtankgl e belt type inoistener arranged n distributing ineistener carrier bleek and baring one enel extending` into sniti moisi-'Lening tank so that its upper meisten ing,` ieee projects therefrom, seid carrier block being formeel eie Wood and provided with e series ot" capillary slots.

CHARLES El. CROW/TELL, @Witnesses Esser Bennett, Jessie KAY. 

